Clouded Thoughts: Roasted or Steamed?

"Damn system, why is this Pikachu so hostile toward me?"

Yun Xi was feeling helpless. He'd originally thought he might get something good.

Instead, he found that his reward was just an egg. But Yun Xi was easygoing enough to accept it.

After all, judging by the explosion when it hatched, Pikachu now had the combat ability of a Chunin.

But in the end, Yun Xi helplessly discovered that Pikachu was hostile toward him, yet listened to Karin without question.

If that wasn't the system screwing him over, what was?

"Ding! The system did not cheat the host. Before Pikachu hatched, your partner reached out to it through a perception technique. That's why it's so attached to her."

Seeing Yun Xi's confusion, the system appeared again to explain.

Faced with the system's explanation, Yun Xi could only sigh helplessly and wave a hand. "Karin, you can raise this yellow-skinned rat..."

In the end, Yun Xi accepted the fact that Pikachu didn't like him.

He handed Pikachu over to Karin as her summon.

This was a pretty good solution, anyway. Yun Xi had already outgrown the need for a Pikachu with only Chunin-level strength.

Karin, meanwhile, was just a support ninja, and her combat ability was limited.

Pikachu's arrival was just what she needed to boost her fighting strength.

Besides, Karin was his, so he could accept giving Pikachu to her.

"Thank you, big brother Yun Xi!"

Karin looked excited when she heard what Yun Xi said.

She clearly liked the summon that looked like a yellow-skinned rat.

After settling Pikachu in, Yun Xi parted ways with Karin, went to his room, and went straight to sleep...

Don't ask why Karin and Yun Xi weren't sleeping together!

Yun Xi was only six!

The night passed in silence...

The news that the Uchiha Clan had been wiped out had clearly shocked the people of Konoha.

When he got up in the morning, Yun Xi found the usually bustling streets almost empty.

There was also a strange atmosphere hanging over the whole village.

Anbu and Root Division ninja kept appearing in the streets. Konoha seemed to be on the verge of a storm.

"Karin, stay home with Pikachu for the next couple of days. Don't go out."

Seeing the atmosphere, Yun Xi warned Karin and Pikachu with a cautious look.

After all, both of them had unusual identities.

One was an orphan from the Uzumaki Clan of the Land of Whirlpools, whom he'd just brought back from outside Konoha.

And the other...

Yun Xi couldn't be bothered to stick up for that yellow rat!

"Got it, big brother Yun Xi."

After hearing Yun Xi's instructions, Karin obediently fed Pikachu while keeping her eyes on him.

"Pika, pika!"

Pikachu was another matter. It had only just escaped from its egg, and now it wasn't even allowed outside.

A look of displeasure appeared on its round face.

But after Karin calmed it down, it reluctantly agreed to stay home for the next couple of days.

"Guys, quick question online: can you roast a yellow-skinned rat?"

Seeing the way Pikachu looked down on him, Yun Xi's face instantly creased with annoyance.

If Karin didn't like it, he'd already have the star anise and spices ready!

"Forget it. You're cute, so I'll let you off!"

Pikachu seemed to sense the murderous look in Yun Xi's eyes and quickly scrambled down from Karin.

It looked up at Yun Xi with an extremely ingratiating expression, then rubbed against his lower leg.

As if to say, Seeing that dangerous look in your eyes, I guess I'll just have to be your partner...

"All right, you two stay home. I'll go ask the Third Hokage if I can get you both into school."

Looking at Pikachu beside him, Yun Xi didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

After breakfast, Yun Xi said goodbye to Karin and Pikachu, then headed for the Ninja Academy.

As he looked at the deserted streets, Yun Xi suddenly thought of Sasuke.

It wasn't that Yun Xi was being overly sentimental. He genuinely felt sorry for Sasuke.

In a single night, his clan had been wiped out, his parents killed by the older brother he loved most, and he didn't even know the truth...

Forget it. I'll try to talk some sense into him if I get the chance.

Looking toward the Uchiha compound in the distance, Yun Xi thought, I did promise Itachi I'd look after him...

Under the oppressive atmosphere, Yun Xi slowly made his way to the Ninja Academy.

It was almost time for class, but the only people at the academy were a group of children on the playground.

None of the teachers had come to school. Iruka wasn't there, either.

"Are there not enough ninja in Konoha anymore?"

Yun Xi was a little surprised by what he saw.

But after thinking it over, he decided the situation made sense. The Uchiha Clan, Konoha's foremost clan, had been wiped out.

Konoha would naturally go on high alert. Besides, the village really was short on fighting strength.

After the Third Shinobi World War, Orochimaru's defection, the Nine-Tails Incident, and Tsunade and Jiraiya leaving Konoha one after another, the village already had few top fighters.

On top of that, as one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages, Konoha had Jonin who needed to go out on missions.

There weren't many ninja left in the village.

Given the unexpected situation, it was only natural that teachers from the Ninja Academy had been temporarily called away.

"Big brother Yun Xi, you're here!"

Just as Yun Xi stood at the entrance, Naruto, who had already arrived at school, spotted him.

He ran over and said, "Looks like there aren't any teachers at school today. We can go grill fish at the Back Mountain again!"

Naruto clearly had no idea about the Uchiha Clan Downfall Incident the day before.

Meanwhile, Hinata, Neji, Shikamaru, and the other children from Konoha's clans were all sitting quietly in their classroom.

The contrast with Naruto was striking.

"Did the other clans hear something?"

Seeing how Shikamaru and the others were acting, Yun Xi realized they must have received some news.

That was why they were behaving so quietly at school.

"Naruto, don't go to the Back Mountain for the next couple of days. Stay home."

Coming back to himself, Yun Xi warned Naruto not to wander around for a while.

Although Naruto was the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki and should be completely safe in Konoha, Yun Xi was worried Danzo might do something irrational after realizing there were no Sharingan left.

"Oh, I understand. We'll go next time, then."

Naruto looked a little disappointed when he heard Yun Xi.

"Naruto, if we can't go to the Back Mountain, does that mean we can't barbecue at school?"

Seeing Naruto's disappointed expression, Yun Xi understood what he was thinking.

Then a bold idea came to him.

There weren't any teachers at school anyway. Wouldn't this be the perfect time for a school barbecue?

Yun Xi hadn't spoken quietly, so the others sitting in the classroom had heard his suggestion, too.

Their eyes held a glimmer of anticipation...